Questions re Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)

[tassitus]

A non-Catholic Christian friend is recommending I attend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I believe he is now or has been a successful and well-liked group leader in BSF. We both understand that I as a Catholic may encounter in the BSF program interpretations of Scripture that are not in line with the understanding and/or teachings of the Catholic Church. Nothing new there.

Our problem is, both of us are curious about this. My friend does not know enough about Catholicism, and I do not know enough about BSF, to determine just what conflicts, if any, a Catholic would encounter should he/she decide to attend BSF, and just how serious the Catholic’s objections might be.

I have read somewhere that BSF holds strongly to the “once saved, always saved” tenet, a tenet I find unbelievably flawed. Does anyone know if this is the case? Does BSF teach (or at least hold to the view) that OSAS is truth?

I also know that BSF has a statement of faith (viewable here: ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/F_FullRpt.asp?EIN=941514010) that all leaders must agree to. The list includes a few statements a Catholic should most likely question:

*- We believe that the **sixty-six books *of Holy Scripture as originally given are in their entirety the Word of God verbally inspired and wholly without error in all that they declare and, therefore, are the supreme and final authority of faith and life.

So, I know right off that BSF does not recognize the deuterocanonical books as Scripture, nor does it recognize the teaching authority of Christ’s church, espousing what I understand to be the doctrine of sola scriptura. This is not good…

*- We believe that salvation from everlasting punishment and entrance into a state of fellowship with God are secured only by a personal belief that Christ bore our sins in His own body on the cross and by a definite receiving of Christ, through the Person of the Holy Spirit, into one’s inner being. **This is to receive eternal life and to be sealed unto the Day of Redemption. ***

Does anyone understand the phrase “to be sealed unto the Day of Judgment”? Is this the “once saved always saved” tenet reworded?

It appears I may have come a long way in finding where the BSF/Catholic conflicts lie. I welcome any thoughts to share with my brother.

Peace all.

 

[allischalmers]

Hi
The phase **to be sealed unto the Day of Redemption ** is from Eph. 4:30

forever Baptist
allischalmers

 

[tassitus]

Hi
The phase **to be sealed unto the Day of Redemption **is from Eph. 4:30

forever Baptist
allischalmers

Thank you, allischalmers. I now see that the phrase can also be translated: “…guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption”.

This “guarantee” DOES sound a lot like “once saved always saved”, doesn’t it? Again, thanks for helping me confirm my speculation.

Peace all, and Merry Christmas.

 

[djrakowski]

I was a BSF children’s leader several years ago, before I converted and while I was attending an evangelical megachurch. In my experience, it is decidedly anti-Catholic in that the leadership will not allow Catholics to hold leadership positions. Not only that, but they’re strongly biased against pentecostals and charismatics. One of my classroom volunteers would’ve made an excellent leader - he had such a rapport with the children - but they refused to allow him in due to his membership in an Assemblies of God congregation. So much for BSF being non-denominational!

 

[tassitus]

I was a BSF children’s leader several years ago, before I converted and while I was attending an evangelical megachurch. In my experience, it is decidedly anti-Catholic in that the leadership will not allow Catholics to hold leadership positions. Not only that, but they’re strongly biased against pentecostals and charismatics. One of my classroom volunteers would’ve made an excellent leader - he had such a rapport with the children - but they refused to allow him in due to his membership in an Assemblies of God congregation. So much for BSF being non-denominational!

Thank you, djrakowski. My friend openly admitted that the decision not to allow certain members of specifically defined groups is solely to protect the new, unknowledgeable, and sometimes naive beginning participants, and not as any bias. He, too, had a good friend that would have made the ideal leader, yet he was not allowed because he had been divorced. The story sounded sensible, but I feel the other issues (since I have no desire to lead anyone, anyway) will most likely keep me from attending.

I will look into Catholic Scripture Study International.

 

[lak611]

Thank you, allischalmers. I now see that the phrase can also be translated: “…guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption”.

This “guarantee” DOES sound a lot like “once saved always saved”, doesn’t it? Again, thanks for helping me confirm my speculation.

Peace all, and Merry Christmas.

I answered your other post. It also appears that they endorse a literal 1000 year reign of Christ (millenial kingdom) after the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. This is another area that is decidedly contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church. I got that by looking at their statements on the link you provided on the other post.

 

[JulieD]

I go to BSF with the Catholic friend who was instrumental in our family’s conversion. She got started when her daughter in law invited her, and liked the scripture exposure, since the Catholic church is decidedly weak in that kind of teaching. We are aware of the anti-Catholic bias, and are hoping to pray them out of it. I am also there because it is an excellent way to improve my apologetics skills. Since revealing one’s “denomination” is forbidden (an excellent rule), only the top leaders know we are Catholic. That information is asked for on the initial application. This means we are incognito in class, and we can say things which challenge Calvinistic ideas – arguments are of course forbidden!

It is a good group, convinced they are “Christians only” and convinced they are without denominational bias. I know (from a lifetime of experience) a lot of their hangups, which makes it that much more fun.

As Catholics, we must MUST learn how protestants think, and what we think about what they think! This is a good place to do that. No chance of being converted over to protestantism; Bible study without the Real Presence and the Sacraments in general is a sad thing. But being Catholic, and reading the scripture in detail, is a great blessing. I feel I am re-learning the scriptures, really, from a truly sacramental position this time.

 

[irishpatrick]

I go to BSF with the Catholic friend who was instrumental in our family’s conversion. She got started when her daughter in law invited her, and liked the scripture exposure, since the Catholic church is decidedly weak in that kind of teaching. We are aware of the anti-Catholic bias, and are hoping to pray them out of it. I am also there because it is an excellent way to improve my apologetics skills. Since revealing one’s “denomination” is forbidden (an excellent rule), only the top leaders know we are Catholic. That information is asked for on the initial application. This means we are incognito in class, and we can say things which challenge Calvinistic ideas – arguments are of course forbidden!

It is a good group, convinced they are “Christians only” and convinced they are without denominational bias. I know (from a lifetime of experience) a lot of their hangups, which makes it that much more fun.

As Catholics, we must MUST learn how protestants think, and what we think about what they think! This is a good place to do that. No chance of being converted over to protestantism; Bible study without the Real Presence and the Sacraments in general is a sad thing. But being Catholic, and reading the scripture in detail, is a great blessing. I feel I am re-learning the scriptures, really, from a truly sacramental position this time.

I disagree with your assessment, respectfully. BSF is “on purpose” anit-Catholic and they will not consider Catholics for leadership positions. There are many weak Catholics who attend such studies who can easily become conversion victims to such studies.

 

[SteveVH]

A non-Catholic Christian friend is recommending I attend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I believe he is now or has been a successful and well-liked group leader in BSF. We both understand that I as a Catholic may encounter in the BSF program interpretations of Scripture that are not in line with the understanding and/or teachings of the Catholic Church. Nothing new there.

Our problem is, both of us are curious about this. My friend does not know enough about Catholicism, and I do not know enough about BSF, to determine just what conflicts, if any, a Catholic would encounter should he/she decide to attend BSF, and just how serious the Catholic’s objections might be.

I have read somewhere that BSF holds strongly to the “once saved, always saved” tenet, a tenet I find unbelievably flawed. Does anyone know if this is the case? Does BSF teach (or at least hold to the view) that OSAS is truth?

I also know that BSF has a statement of faith (viewable here: ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/F_FullRpt.asp?EIN=941514010) that all leaders must agree to. The list includes a few statements a Catholic should most likely question:

*- We believe that the **sixty-six books ***of Holy Scripture as originally given are in their entirety the Word of God verbally inspired and wholly without error in all that they declare and, therefore, are the supreme and final authority of faith and life.

So, I know right off that BSF does not recognize the deuterocanonical books as Scripture, nor does it recognize the teaching authority of Christ’s church, espousing what I understand to be the doctrine of sola scriptura. This is not good…

*- We believe that salvation from everlasting punishment and entrance into a state of fellowship with God are secured only by a personal belief that Christ bore our sins in His own body on the cross and by a definite receiving of Christ, through the Person of the Holy Spirit, into one’s inner being. **This is to receive eternal life and to be sealed unto the Day of Redemption. ***

Does anyone understand the phrase “to be sealed unto the Day of Judgment”? Is this the “once saved always saved” tenet reworded?

It appears I may have come a long way in finding where the BSF/Catholic conflicts lie. I welcome any thoughts to share with my brother.

Peace all.

Two things. First of all the words "to be sealed unto the Day of Judgment" refer to the indelible seal we receive at baptism and with which we will be recognized by God on the day of judgment. I have little doubt that this group would disagree with that assessment, however, which brings me to my next question:

Do you feel you will really learn something here? Have you ever looked for a good Catholic Bible study? There are many around, even if it isn’t at your own parish. You could invite your friend. These folks sound pretty bias to me and I think you’ll find that when you speak of things like the Eucharist you will be ignored or belittled. Been there, done that, not with this group, but it sure brings back memories hearing about them.

If you know your stuff and they are intellectually honest then maybe some good can come out of it. If you are going for the purpose of learning from them, then I would probably pass. You should be learning from your own Church which possesses the fullness of truth.

 

[underhismercy]

I was a BSF leader for 3 years and completed the 7 year study before returning to my Catholic faith.

I met some wonderful people in that study who really love the Lord Jesus; they are however, as another poster mentioned, decidedly anti Catholic . Leadership positions are not open to either Catholics or those of a more charismatic pentecostal identity.

While I learned a lot about the Scriptures and still consider my leader during my prodigal Protestant years there… a mentor , I could not in good conscience recommend this study to a Catholic.

We have the fullness of faith…It’s so beautiful and distinct it deserves more than a mere tolerant acceptance by any Bible Study group.

More and more parishes are rising to this wonderful hunger in their parishioners and offering great Catholic studies…

+PAX

 

[graceandglory]

I was a BSF leader for 3 years and completed the 7 year study before returning to my Catholic faith.

I met some wonderful people in that study who really love the Lord Jesus; they are however, as another poster mentioned, decidedly anti Catholic . Leadership positions are not open to either Catholics or those of a more charismatic pentecostal identity.

While I learned a lot about the Scriptures and still consider my leader during my prodigal Protestant years there… a mentor , I could not in good conscience recommend this study to a Catholic.

We have the fullness of faith…It’s so beautiful and distinct it deserves more than a mere tolerant acceptance by any Bible Study group.

More and more parishes are rising to this wonderful hunger in their parishioners and offering great Catholic studies…

+PAX

I too spent my share of time in BSF, before returning to the fullness of faith, found in the Church I was born and baptized in, the Roman Catholic Church.

Have you found a good parish bible study that is as challenging as BSF? I have been Catholic (again) for over 6 yrs, and haven’t found anything very challenging. Maybe it’s because our philosophy and outlook is different as Catholics? We aren’t as into making ourselves bible scholars, as we are into knowing Christ, and growing in holiness and intimacy with Christ…
Just wondering what your thoughts are.

 

[underhismercy]

I too spent my share of time in BSF, before returning to the fullness of faith, found in the Church I was born and baptized in, the Roman Catholic Church.

Have you found a good parish bible study that is as challenging as BSF? I have been Catholic (again) for over 6 yrs, and haven’t found anything very challenging. Maybe it’s because our philosophy and outlook is different as Catholics? We aren’t as into making ourselves bible scholars, as we are into knowing Christ, and growing in holiness and intimacy with Christ…
Just wondering what your thoughts are.

I think you make a really good point when you say our philosophy and outlook as Catholics is different . It took me a while to understand the difference after coming home.

I have friends who love the Cornerstone Study, and of course Jeff Cavins …personally, though it took time for me to adjust to the change.

I began studying the Scriptures with the daily Mass …using commentaries , the Catechism, the saints and the Church fathers . I soon found I had plenty to satisfy my hunger for the Scriptures ! I’ve been doing it as faithfully as time allows in my life .

I’d love to use what I learned from those years in BSF and do a small group at my parish using the Scriptures from the Mass and all our Catholic treasures!

Blessings